By Imtiaz Hussain
KHAIRPUR: The District Health Officer (DHO) Khairpur, Dr Kaleemullah Shaikh, has relieved 24 male and female medical officers over alleged prolonged absenteeism and constituted a high-level committee to conduct an HR audit and probe the presence of “ghost staff” in the district health system.
In what officials described as an unprecedented move in Khairpur’s history, the DHO has initiated wide-ranging action against doctors reportedly absent from duty for years while continuing to draw salaries.
Dr Shaikh also formed a committee comprising Dr Bagh Ali (ADHO Administration), Dr Tabish Ahmed Phull (DDHO Nutrition), Dr Ali Hassan Mahesar (DDHO Curative), Dr Mohsin Muneer Rajper (Focal Person HR) and Accounts Officer Noman Malik.
The committee has been tasked with examining records of all rural health centres (RHCs) and basic health units (BHUs) across the district. According to officials, the DHO has relieved 24 long-absent medical officers and forwarded their cases to the Sindh Health Department for further action.
The doctors are alleged to have been residing abroad, including in the United Kingdom, Canada, Dubai and the United States, while continuing to draw government salaries.
The list of relieved doctors reportedly includes individuals such as Dr Avinash, Dr Tanveer Ahmed, Dr Khalil Ahmed, Dr Asia, Dr Muhammad Wajidullah, Dr Rakesh Kumar, Dr Paras Aziz, Dr Imtiaz Soho, Dr Arun Kumar, Dr Muhammad Ayoub, Reena Kumari, Dr Naila Gu, Dr Durshan, Dr Romesia, Dr Attiq-ur-Rehman Shaikh, Dr Kashif Mughal, Ghulam Ali, Dr Javed Nabi, Dr Shahzaman Gillal and Fareed Ahmed, among others.
Officials said surprise inspections revealed that several doctors had not reported for duty for years. Despite being issued three personal hearing notices, many failed to appear before the authorities.
Sources further claimed that some doctors who did appear alleged that other absentee staff were retaining their positions through informal payments.
Dr Shaikh said there would be “no compromise on the rights of patients”, adding that strict action had been initiated against those involved in absenteeism. He directed that salaries of the concerned officials be stopped immediately and letters be sent to the District Accounts Office in this regard.
He also recommended further legal and disciplinary proceedings, while announcing a zero-tolerance policy against what he described as “ghost duties” in the health sector.
